In 2016, Christopher Vitch earned his first World Series of Poker gold bracelet, taking down the $2,500 mixed triple draw event and the $136,854 first-place prize. This year, he one-upped himself by topping an elite field in the $10,000 stud eight-or-better championship to take home bracelet no. 2 and the $320,103 payday.

The 34-year-old former computer engineer has made a name for himself in the poker world as a limit and mixed-games specialist and now resides in Phoenix, Arizona. To secure his second title, he had to overcome a stacked final table that included four other bracelet winners in Brock Parker (7th), Jonathan Duhamel (5th), Abe Mosseri (3rd) and Benny Glaser (2nd).

Mosseri is coming off of a win the $10,000 Omaha eight-or-better event earlier this summer. Glaser won two bracelets in 2016, in the $1,500 Omaha eight-or-better and the $10,000 Omaha eight-or-better events.

“I knew it was going to be a battle," Vitch said. "Benny’s a great player. He told me that he’s never lost one of these (heads-up) at the World Series. I’m glad to say I’m the first one to be able to defeat him. Either one of us could have won, especially as the levels got high at the end.”

Phil Hellmuth, who was gunning for his record 15th WSOP bracelet, just missed out on the official final table, busting in ninth place for $26,938.

With his 18th-place finish, Daniel Negreanu officially became just the third player to reach the 100-cash mark at the WSOP. He trails Erik Seidel, who notched his 100th cash earlier this summer, by just one. Hellmuth continues to lead the way, now with 124.

For more coverage from the summer series, visit the 2017 WSOP landing page complete with a full schedule, news, player interviews and event recaps.

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